"Levos…" Bulma's body trembled; hope shimmered in her eyes.
At that exact heartbeat, a figure popped in between them.
"Levos! You turned into a Saiyan? This is awesome let's fight right now!"
Levos' words died in his throat.
"Son kun !" A vein jumped on Bulma's forehead.
Boom
Levos and Bulma swung at the same time. Two fists landed squarely on Goku's cheeks left and right.
He pinwheeled backward and slammed into the barrier enclosing the temple with a resounding thud. The whole structure gave a polite shiver.
Levos had finally found the mood, only for Goku to blow it to pieces. Even Bulma looked genuinely irate.
The Elder Kai took one look and whistled as he sidled away. As he passed the groaning Goku, he muttered, shaken, "Our little deal is off. I'm old and value my continued existence…"
"Ow, ow, ow." Goku rubbed his face, aggrieved. "Gramps, aren't you and I both already dead?"
"Ah! I'm getting senile," the Elder Kai yelped, slapped his thigh, and scurried off.
Watching the pair, Levos ground his teeth but the picture came together. He'd actually forgotten about reviving Goku.
Maybe I should wait for the Dragon Balls' cooldown and bring Dogku back later… He glanced at Bulma
She was speaking with the two Trunkses.
Bulma herself was young again, but she was still a single mom with two sons, both already grown.
And Levos?
A single father of fourteen.
Well… after everything he'd just done, only one fused Cell Jr. remained.
That fusion had since unraveled. The eldest and second were rampaging around the temple, pitching the place into chaos.
Levos' expression darkened. "Piccolo, could you please keep them in line?"
Piccolo's brow creased. He turned to Gohan and struck up a conversation, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Head pounding, Levos recalled the little terrors and laid down the law.
"Number One, Number Two! If you keep this up, I'll have Uncle Piccolo assimilate you."
Both Cell Jrs chirped obediently eyes sparkling with mischief that said they didn't believe a word.
Levos bristled. "Oh, you don't? Then I'll smack you until you do!"
He began gathering ki.
Numbers One and Two squeaked and ducked behind Bulma.
Bulma's heart clenched; she turned to Levos, eyes trembling. "Levos… they're your children? What's happening?"
Her face showed real panic at the idea that Levos already had kids.
Levos sighed and explained, "They were born while I was in Cell Max form. My body was going to rupture; this was the only way to survive."
A moment later Bulma exhaled long, then smiled. "So that's it. In that case, I suppose you really are their dad."
Her smile made Levos blink.
"You're… not gloating, are you?" he asked, wary.
"How could I? I just think they're adorable."
"Adorable?" Levos narrowed his eyes.
"Look how good they are."
Levos froze.
Good? No way.
The Cell Jrs were little demons curious about everything, incorrigibly naughty. In the few short hours since their birth, they had pestered everyone. They listened to no one… except Levos, when he split off part of his focus to wrangle them.
And yet
Numbers One and Two were standing politely behind Bulma, not even pretending to tease her.
Levos rubbed his eyes. What?
"They seem really fond of me," Bulma said, smiling warmly.
"That's… impossible," Levos murmured. "This makes no sense."
"I feel some kind of special link with them too," Bulma admitted, blinking in surprise. "If they're willing, I don't mind helping teach them. You don't have to worry."
Her offer made Levos' mood wobble. A suspicion prowled into his mind… and the more he thought about it, the more certain he felt.
If it were just Bulma, fine.
But the one he'd absorbed back then had been the fusion of Bulma and Android 18.
He snuck a glance at Android 18, standing alone at the edge of the plaza.
She felt it and looked over.
Levos' heart jumped; he immediately pulled on his best "pensive" face. I'm never going to look her in the eye again, am I.
She must never find out these kids are connected to her. He etched the vow into his bones.
He cleared his throat and briskly changed the subject. "Bulma, could I ask you to watch them for a bit? I need to speak with Miss Vados."
Bulma nodded.
Levos rose into the air until he found Vados above the temple.
"Miss Vados," he said without preamble, "could you help revive my comrade?"
Vados' brows drew together. "Mr. Levos, you know an angel's stance. I cannot interfere in mortal affairs."
"I know." Levos offered a rueful smile. "But Mr. Goku concerns the fate of our entire universe."
"Oh?" Vados' phoenix eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"In another timeline," Levos continued, "Mr. Goku and the Omni-King are friends. They haven't met here yet, but once they do, I believe Goku will catch the Omni-King's eye."
Vados fell quiet. Champa had been listening too.
"Absolutely not!" Champa bared his teeth. "No one plays games with the Omni-King. You can't even imagine what he is. And it's impossible anyway the Omni-King is far too exalted to befriend a mortal. You're trying to trick Vados!"
He scratched his head, suddenly unsure. "This came from that time-traveling kid, right? Is his intel even reliable?"
Levos nodded gravely. "It did. But timelines differ. No one can promise how this one will play out."
Vados glanced at Levos, then at Champa, and smiled faintly. "So the two of you have been wracking your brains for a way to avoid the Omni-King's erasure."
Levos admitted it. Champa sniffed. "Tch! I'm a God of Destruction. Why would I care if a universe gets erased?"
"Oh my," Vados cooed. "So Lord Champa truly doesn't care about Lord Beerus' well-being."
Levos blinked. "A pity. Earth's cuisine will disappear forever…"
Champa stalled, then grumbled, "Vados… reviving a mortal doesn't break any rules, does it?"
"If it is Lord Champa's order, it won't be a problem," Vados replied, eyes smiling.
"Too sneaky, Vados! Every time the Grand Priest asks questions, I'm the one who gets scolded!"
"So… shall I revive Mr. Goku or not?" Vados teased.
Champa made a noncommittal noise that sounded a lot like "yes."
A few moments later
"It's gone! The halo's gone!" Goku whooped, arms windmilling, as giddy as a child.
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